Sakine Madon
was @Sweden (2012-04-02 to 2012-04-08)

I’m Sakine Madon, a 32 year old journalist in Stockholm. I work as managing editor at the Swedish opinion site Newsmill and as an independent liberal columnist at Expressen’s editorial pages. My family and I came to Sweden in 1985. I was born five years earlier in southern Turkey (Adana). Since my father is Kurdish and my mother Turkish, I often get questions about immigrants, other cultures and so on.

I’m often described as outspoken. I believe that says more about Sweden and Swedish “konsensuskultur” (culture of consensus) than me. It’s not that difficult to stick your neck out here. I hope you’ll find my tweets interesting, or at least amusing. You can find my blog here.

@Sweden April 9, 2012 01:11

Funny that the notion that gender roles are constructs of society and not the biological results of penises/vajayjays is so provoking.

@Sweden April 9, 2012 00:13

A great thing about being gay is that most western cities have a gay community. Easier to meet people (and by “meet” I don’t mean “hook up”)

@Sweden April 8, 2012 21:41

In my head I see Natalie Portman as Katniss. Probably because of the similarities with “V for Vendetta”, one of the best movies ever.

@Sweden April 8, 2012 21:40

I just bought the second and third book of the Hunger Games. It’s weird how much I identified with Katniss in the first one.

@Sweden April 5, 2012 08:19

My younger brother used to complain. “We don’t get gifts on Christmas OR on Ramadan! It’s not fair!” Good point.

@Sweden April 4, 2012 07:35

Came to Sweden -85. “Olof Palme’s paradise” as my parents, refugees after the military coup in Turkey 1980, put it.

@Sweden April 3, 2012 18:03

FYI: One can say “robbery” for fun. And one can be pro lower taxes and still <3 Sweden. AND pro free meals in school.

@Sweden April 3, 2012 17:48

The extra taxes because I made the mistake starting up a company. Missed some “egenavgifter”. Financial accounting is not my thing…

@Sweden April 3, 2012 16:37

Skatteverket, our public authority that takes our money/taxes, wants me to pay 26 457 SEK this year. A robbery!

@Sweden April 3, 2012 10:42

What else… well, we/Swedes have bad drinking habits. If I don’t want to frink, I say I’m a muslim. Just to avoid questions.

@Sweden April 3, 2012 10:35

Hate when my readers mail me “You’re able to write what you write just because you have a different ethnical background”.

@Sweden April 3, 2012 10:25

A follower told me not to “whine about everything”. Haha! But there’s too much “WE LOVE SWEDEN” here. Gets too cosy.

@Sweden April 3, 2012 08:03

Going to Sweden Rock this year. Didn’t know how hard it is getting a decent place (youth hostel, anything) to stay at. Anyone joining?

@Sweden April 2, 2012 16:08

Once, I accidently went to work at “Långfredag”. When my college finally answered her message was: “Go home you immigrant, It’s Easter!”

@Sweden April 2, 2012 15:40

I get confused when asked “where are you from?” Sometimes peopl simply want to know where in Sweden, while I prefer telling exotic stories.

@Sweden April 2, 2012 12:03

Someone wanted an introduction. Hrm…32 year old journalist in Stockholm. Speak Swedish, English and some Turkish and Kurdish. Hate snow.